■lO-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 21,2002 B Kids ” **4 Re-enacting the origin of Christmas are junior high youth from Midway Church of the Brethren, Lebanon. From left are Adam Keller, Jordan Landis, Meridith and Morgan Bal sbaugh, Kelly Patches, Matthew Balsbaugh, Jarold Balsbaugh, Ryan Patches, and Joe Vigilante. The Greatest Christmas Gift Isn’t Wrapped In Paper LOU ANN GOOD Food And Family Features Editor MANHEIM (Lancaster Co.) Every year many children make lists of all the presents that hope to open on Christmas Day. But in some areas of the world and even in Pennsylvania and other states, children will not re ceive presents. These are children whom adults refer to as “needy.” They may have only one parent, but even if they have two parents, the family doesn’t have enough money to buy them presents. Richard and Nancy Witmer, Manheim. wanted their grand children to see beyond the com mercialism of the holiday season and find joy and fulfillment in the true meaning of Christmas. They wanted their grandchildren to help others in need. One of the ways they helped needy families was to pack a "Christmas Bundle.” Packing a Christmas Bundle is a project sponsored by the Men- Christmas caroling is a meaningful tradition for young and old. Here a group from Hernley’s Mennonite Church, Manheim, sing Christmas carols for older members in the community. Later the carolers return to the church to sip hot chocolate or coffee and munch on Christmas cooikies. « j *"* V * nonite Central Committee, which asks families to purchase supplies and wrapped them in a towel. Some of the items wrapped in the bundle are an outfit of clothing, top, toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, and washcloth. The bundles are designated for either a boy or a girl. One day, Joshua Witmer, 7, helped his grandma (Nancy Wit mer) assemble the items to be wrapped in bundles designated for boys. Another day, his sister, Sarah, 10, helped wrap bundles for girls. As they worked togeth er. they talked about families and children who might receive the bundles. They hoped the children would have as much fun opening the bundles as they had putting them together. One evening after school, Josh ua and Sarah drove in the car with their grandmother to deliver the bundles to the MCC building in Ephrata. A staff person show ed them the warehouse where all the bundles were stored until Korner *. / V * loaded on a huge truck for deliv ery. Sarah and Joshua also like to go Christmas caroling with then parents, Richard Jr. and Jennifer Witmer, Manheim, and grand parents. Every year the Witmers accompany a group from Hern ley’s Mennonite Church. They visited homes where older people and handicapped people live. These people seldom are able to leave their homes, and are happy to have people visit them to sing favorite Christmas carols. Later the caroling group return to church to sip hot chocolate or coffee and eat Christmas cookies. Sarah also likes to help her grandmother set up nativity sets. Her grandmother collects many different kinds of nativity sets. She has between 20-30. While placing the manager, the baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the wise men, and the shepherds, it's in triguing to think of the first Christmas night when Jesus was born. Every year Sarah Witmer, 10, helps her grandmother set up this nativity scene. Her grandmother, Nancy Wit mer, has between 20-30 different nativity sets. A tired but happy Sarah collapses beside these bundles she packed with clothing, toy, toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, a towel and a washcloth. Some children such as the jun- dressed as angels, Kelly Patches ior high youth group at Midway portray Mary, Matthew Bal- Church of the Brethren, Leba- sbaugh pretended he was Joseph, non, portray the first Christmas, and the wisemen were Jarod Bal- They dress as shepherds, the sbaugh, Ryan Patches, and Joe wisemen, angels, and Mary or Jo- Vigilante. seph. They set up a manager These are a few of the things scene. This year, the group acting that children do to celebrate out the scene in several different Christmas. Instead of thinking locations. Adam Keller and Jor- about what they want to get, they dan Landis dressed as shepherds, focus on what they can do to Meridith and Morgan Balsbaugh make others happy. Joshua Witmer, 7, helped assemble these Christmas bundles to be distributed to needy children in Pennsylva nia.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers